Folding furniture leg



Aug- 14, 1934- ,w. M. BOENNING 1,970,220

FOLDING FURNITURE LEG Filed Sept. 18, 1933 @wf/@M6 Patented Aug. 14, 1934 UNITED STATES PATE1\J 'I l OFFICE This invention appertains to foldinglegs for furniture and more particularly to a novel brace and lock for the swinging legs of card and like tables.

L One of the primary objects of my invention is to`- provide novel means for securely holding theA swinging leg of a table or like piece of furniture in Vits set-up operative position against accidental swinging movement, said means being quickly releasable by an operator, when it is desired to fold the table for storage purposes. l

Another salient object of my invention is the provision of a swinging brace for the folding legs of card tables,` the brace being provided with a longitudinally extending keyhole slot for receiving the headed guide pin carried by the table leg, the opening of the lslot'receiving the guide pin when the leg is in its extended operative position, the brace being split at one end tcform in conjunction with the slot resilient arms, whereby to facilitatethe movement ofthe guide pin into and out of theV opening vin said slot incidentA to the swinging of the leg to its extended V'and folded positions.

A further important vobject of my invention is the provision of novel means for forming the walls of the keyhole slot adjacent tothe openingvofA said slot, whereby the resilient arms of the brace will' be easily sprung apart to facilitate the movement of theguide pin into the opening vof the slot, `a sliding lock loop being provided for movement over vsaid resilient arms, whereby inadfv vertent springing movement of the arms will be prevented, so 'that' the leg will be positively held itsrextended set-up position.` v A'fur'ther object of my invention is the provision 'of a'novel fixture for connecting the swingingY legs cfa card table with the top thereof, the

fixture embodyingl right angularly extending braces for, the leg, whereby the leg will be thoroughly braced and held against wabbling.

A'still further object of my invention is to provide a novel table brace and lock of the above character, which will be durable and efficient in use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture and one which can be incorporated with a card table at a small cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in

whichz f Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a cardl table showing one corner'thereof and illus* trating .my improvedbrace and lock incorporated i therewith, one of the side rails of the table being shown broken away to illustrate structural details.

Figure 2 is a the line 2-2 ofA Figure 1', looking in the direction Ycf the arrows.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of 6 the arrows.

Figure 4 is a detail vertical section illustrating a slightly modified formof the leg fixture.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5- of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the modified form of fixture.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail side elevation showing the novel construction of the brace, the View showing the swinging leg just prior lto being moved to its fully extended position, thearms of the brace being shown spread apart.`

Referring to the drawing in idetail, wherein similar reference `characters designate the corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Vthe letter T generally indicates a card table,

which, as shown, includes the table top 10 having the side rails-11'securedtheretd VEach corner of the tablesupports' the swinging leg4 12 and my inventionrelates more particularly to the novel vmeans for connecting the' leg to the table and-for locking the same in 'its extended operative position.1 1

As shown in Figures 1-3, inclusive, eachv leg is Y supported by a U-shaped bracket 15 which emthe U-'shaped`bracket`15'carries an offset arm 16,

U-shaped bracket 15 has connected therewith an embodies the right angularly extending relatively long leg 19 and the inwardly extending relatively detail vertical section taken on 60 braces the upper. end of its leg. The outer end of L-shapedbracket 18. The L-shaped bracket 18 Y short leg 20. The outerend of the short leg 20 100` has formed thereon an arm 22, which is secured by means of a vfastening element 23 to the other side rail-11 of the-table. The long leg 19 of the bracket 18 can be provided with a slot 24 to facilitate the placing of the fastening element 23 in 105 place.

pivot 25 and one end of this pivot is preferably enlarged and received within an opening in one side rail11 This pivot 25 also extends through 110- ranged in spaced'rel'ation'to the screw 17 Whichholds the bracket in position. A spacing washer 28 can be placed on the pivot screw between the brace 26 and the inner face of the-V rail 11.

15 The brace is provided with a longitudinallyex= tending keyhole slot 29 and the opening 30 of `this l slot is disposd in close proximity to the lower end of the brace. A diagonal slit 31 Y'is formedin th'e'- extreme outer end of the brace 26 and.- this .slit v communicates with the opening 30 and divides the braceinto aV pair-of resilient arms32and 33. They 34, for a purpose which will be later set forth.. I '1'3 Theileg 12 at apoint spaced .from the..pivotf25 carries a transversely extending,headed'guide'bolt 35. This bolt extends through the slot 29.and'thef headthereof rides yonthe outer face; of thexbra'ce 26- If desired,y a bearing washerf'36 canibepla'ced on the guide bolt brace26.`

when the ieg 12 is. .inics foldedposmo, ,the .1

same lies parallel :to the table topflO andthe vslide inglock lbrace lor linky V26 lies longitudinallyofthe; fleg'betweenthe leg .andtheaadjacent rail :11. Inf:

this position, the guide bolt 35 is disposed adja-i cent tothe inner end-of the'keyhole .slotf When the leg is swungto its extended operative e position,v the guide, bolt 35rides inY the'slot ttoflward thegouter end-,thereoffandthe circular-open# ing 30 Aof said slot. As the'legfreaches itsiextreme'v extended position, the guide bolt 35 rides onthe converging Walls 34 of ath'ebracefor link and forces thefresilient arms 32 and 33 of the-linkor brace apart :allowing the guide bolt 35 to Snapintdthe circular opening or portion 30Iofsaid keyhole slotf The-leg is now held :in'its.extended.positionsandt to preventaccidental Imovement ofxthe leg, ai

slide-lock loop-37 is providedi This loopismount. 503 ed :on thebraceror link .-26-fonmovement towardi and-away from the outer end of said^brace:or'linlQ-. Thus,;.

circularportion of said slotto vhold the leg inan and-.closely embraces the link or,- bracef. when the leg is in its extended position and the guide bolt is in the, circular opening or portion Y30 555 of thekeyhole slot, the slide vloopr37 'iswmoved down on the brace into engagement with-the head.;

This prevents the forcing'apartofthe-*resilient` arms 32and. 33 and consequently,.the"guide 'bolt AV 35. cannot move out of the openingSOfar-idthel leg :2 1S firmly locked inits extended position.

When it is desired to collapsethe leg, theglock. y

loop 37 is slid upwardly on .the brace, preferably beyond the slot 29, after which .a forcible` pull is given to ,the legv which snaps the guide bo1tr35f 655 from out of the circular portion 30 of .the keyhole slot into the longitudinal portion thereof.b This permits the quick collapsing of the leg.

Obviouslyjthis provides'a simple and durable` form' of leg lock which V'can be-easilyactuated by 700the ordinary layman;v

In order to brace the table leg at right angles to the lock brace 26,` a brace strap 38 can be provided'. The lower end of rthe brace strap 38 is securely mounted on the bolt "35.at the nner end thereof. The'uppere'nd'of the'brace strap'38 `is 35 between the leg l2xandthei top,

Y provided with a slit extending from the outer end,

rockably mounted on a pivot 39 carried by a right angularly extending foot formed on the leg 19 of L-shaped bracket 18. The provision of this brace 38 functions to eliminate undue strain on the pivot 25 and the leg is braced in all directions by the use of the braces 26 and 38.

Obviously, the bracket for connecting the leg to the table is open to modications and in Figures 4 and .5;*1 havefillustrated another Vform of bracket. Thisbracket .is` generally indicated by the reference character 45 and includes the parallel side plates 46 and 47, which are connected together by anfintegral body plate 48 which is placed into abutting engagement with the inner face of the table top. The-'plate 46 at one end is provided with a-.right-angularly extending integral arm 49, which is secured to the adjacent side rail of the such. asa-screw 50. The plate 47 is provided with an offset leg 51 which is secured to the other side 95 rail `of--the table,` such -as by means of ascrewv 52: Walls of the keyhole slot adjacent ,togthe openings'. 30 graduallyconverge' toward said opening as Vat A. supporting shaft 53 .Y rotatably extends-f Vthrough .theeplates 46 and47 vand .-into a bearing,A

to theeshaft. The `inner end of the shaftis veil:-

tended .as at 55 and has riveted or otherwise;-l

secured thereto, asat 56, a brace strap. 57. ,Thisf' brace strap 57 performs the same'functionas the im( brace strap 38` and-:thelower orv outer eridofthis.4 strap is `secured to the-table leg. Inv all otherre spects,3the table, the leg and the fixtureY are the"4 same as Ythat form of thefinvention shownin Figures-13,-inclusive. t f 113i Changes indetails may be-.made without-'deff- `parting from the spirit or the scope; of thisfin'-` Vention', butwhat I claim as new is;--

1. The combination with a table including-afsidefrails and a-.swinging-leg, means for-'confnectingfthefleg to the top, bracing-means for the.'l legfcomprising .af swingingbracestrapv carried tbm the-table,A said -brace strap being provided Witha` llongitudinallyextending keyhole slot vwith the-cirfcular por-tion.of.said slot' disposed outermost, a. guidepin carried by the.table leg slidably mountedf insaid slotfor movement-into and outof the.

extended-..position, said .bracey strap being Valso .1

13m ofthe strapL to the `circular portion ofthe keyhole slot, ,whereby'; to provide resilient arms on saidstr-ap to facilitate the movement of the guidepin into and out ofthe circular-portion of the keyhole slot. 1 Y. 1 v -131 2. 'I'he Ycombination with a' table includinga y, top, side'rails anda swinging leg, means for Aconnecting thelleg to the top, bracing vmeans forthe legffcomprising ai swinging brace strapv carried by f the table, said brace strap` being provided with,a .14'0b longitudinally extending Y keyhole slot with the# circular portion of said slot'disposed4 outermost,

a Vguide pin carried by, thev table leg slidably mounted in` saidslot for movement into and out .off

theicirculanportion of said slot'to hold theleggin *14512* slot; whereby to. provide .resilient arms ion-:said

into and out of the circular portion of the keyhole slot, and releasable means for holding the resilient arms against spreading movement, whereby to prevent inadvertent movement of the guide pin out of the circular portion of said keyhole slot.

3. The combination with a table including top, side rails and a swinging leg, means for connecting the leg to the top, bracing and locking means for the leg comprising a swinging strap brace pivotally carried by the table having a longitudinally extending keyhole slot, the circular portion of said slot being disposed adjacent to the outer end of the link, and a guide pin carried by said` leg slidably mounted in the slot into and out of the circular portion thereof, the brace strap being also provided with a slit extending from the outer end thereof into the circular portion of the slot, whereby to divide the brace strap into a pair of resilient arms to facilitate movement of the pin into and out of said circular portion, the walls of the slot adjacent to the circular portion being converged, whereby the pin will spread the arms against their inherent resiliency to permit movement of the pin into the circular portion.

4. The combination with a table including top, side rails and a swinging leg, means for connecting the leg to the top, bracing and locking means for the leg comprising a swinging strap brace pivotally carried by the table having a longitudinally extending keyhole slot, the circular portion of said slot being disposed adjacent to the outer end of the link, and a guide pin carried by said leg slidably mounted in the slot into and out of the circular portion thereof, the brace strap being also provided with a slit extending from the outer end thereof into the circular portion of the slot, whereby to divide the brace strap into a pair of resilient arms to facilitate movement of the pin into and out of said'circular portion, the walls of the slot adjacent to the circular portion being converged, whereby the pin will spread the arms against their inherent resiliency to permit movement of the pin into the circular portion, and releasable means for holding the arms against spreading movement, when the guide pin is in the circular portion of the slot.

5. The combination with a table including top, side rails and a swinging leg, means for connecting the leg to the top, bracing and locking means for the leg comprising a swinging strap brace pivotally carried by the table having a longitudinally extending keyhole slot, the circular portion of said slot being disposed adjacent to the outer end of the link, and a guide pin carried by said leg slidably mounted in the slot into and out of the circular portion thereof, the brace strap being also provided with a slit extending from the outer end thereof into the circular portion of the slot, whereby to divide the brace strap into a pair of resilientV arms to facilitate movement of the pin into and out of said circular portion, the walls of the slot adjacent to the circular portion being converged, whereby the pin will spread the arms against their inherent resiliency to permit movement of the pin into the circular portion, -and a slide loop mounted on the brace strap and closely Y embracing the same for holding the resilient arms against spreading movement, when the guide pin is in the circular portion of the slot.

WILLIAM M. BOENNING. 

